La Liga 2006/07

[g force]

Looks as if Barca will be waving goodbye to Motta very soon, as well as Eidur and Edmilson who could both be off to Newcastle.

In return, we're signing Abidal from Lyon (LB, but can also play RB) - that should hopefully give us a lot of defensive cover and might suggest we'll be going for 4 at the back next season.

 

[Biffo]

So g force..... please tell me about Torres.

.......

ETA - just seen your comments on the Bent/Henry thread which pretty much covers it. LFC wasting more money then

 

[g force]

:Ha...Mrkikiet can chime in too he's seen him plenty of times! Can't really compared him to anyone in England.

First of all - he's not a bad player, that's why LFC stumped up that much cash for him. He was pretty good for Spain in the WC too.

But over a season - and bearing in mind Atleti is "his club", he came through the youth ranks - he's very up and down. Much like Bellamy and Crouch - will have spell then when you need him.....nada. For £27m that's quite a risk.

An out-and-out striker with his pace and touch should be scoring more goals than he has. 03/04 he got 19 and everyone thought it was the start of something massive....although Julio Baptista scored 20 that season so make of it what you will

Recent season haven't been as good. Some of this is down to the support at Atleti that at times borders of the comical. At LFC he will get better supply - from Gerrard, Riise, Agger (not Pennant ).

So yeah, I think he's over-rated and over-priced and has never fufilled the potential he's capable of. But, I think LFC are gambling that he'll come good and if he does you'll have a world class player. If he doesn't he'll sulk back to Spain and play for Valencia or Villarreal.

 

[sleaterkinney]

Over priced - maybe, but consider what bent just went for.

This guy is class, himself and kuyt up front, feeding off knockdowns from crouch, linking up with Gerrard and Garcia - who is staying I hope.

 

[g force]

Garcia is going the other way for £4m apparently, although not tied to the Torres deal.

Bent is the biggest daylight robbery since Brinks Mat

I dunno if Torres is class TBH. He's got a lot of potential but he's more of Kluivert - bags of talent, but not really done what he should. Maybe he'll come good with better support....but Crouch? Yeah good one...3 up front, plus wingers and Gerrard?

Your defence will be busy!

 

[sleaterkinney]

Nah, Rafa likes to rotate, it'll be two up front, or Torres playing in the hole, but he is a nice fit into our team.

I think going for major honours every year will bring out the best in him, as well as being at a more settled club, not having to carry the team.

 

[Biffo]

Ta. Wait & see I suppose.

 

[g force]

I see Gruniad is copying text from La Marca now in its Lampard story. Funny as fuck though:

"There is no other option. He has been offered to us, Milan, Inter and Real Madrid. Basically all of the big clubs. But none are interested. We are the same as those clubs are, we're looking for a player who is more creative and has a greater technique than Lampard. So it looks like he will go nowhere."



Torres goes....Forlan comes in. Pretty decent for Atleti I think if they can give him the service. Villarreal will need to sign someone to stand any hope of making the UEFA places....Portillo might be an option as he looked okay towards the end of the season.

 

[Dr. Furface]

Bent is the biggest daylight robbery since Brinks Mat

I dunno if Torres is class TBH. He's got a lot of potential but he's more of Kluivert - bags of talent, but not really done what he should. Maybe he'll come good with better support....but Crouch? Yeah good one...3 up front, plus wingers and Gerrard?

I'm not Bent's biggest fan (and I don't support Spurs, or Charlton for that matter) but he has as least made his mark in the Premiership in a piss poor team, and he's still only 23. For £17m Spurs are taking much less of a gamble that Liverpool are on Torres - I agree with everything you say about him. £27m is a joke. I'll be surprised if he does any better than Cisse did there.

 

[g force]

The Cisse comparison is fair...another talented player who failed to settle. I think Torres has more natural ability and has shown glimpses of that - WC for example.

 

[mrkikiet]

Torres has the potential to be very good at liverpool, if he can imagine that he is playing every game against Barcelona. If not he's going to have real problems, maybe rafa knows something that we don't but I reckon he's a very ordinary striker, there are better in the Spanish league.

His penalty taking is absolutely abysmal, he missed over half those he took last season, joker.

I notice that Cisse appears to be an option for Villareal, now that they've been told they can't have tamudo, proper striker musical chairs this summer. And Zaragoza are upping D.Milito's contract and his buy out fee to 36million Euros, good.

 

[sleaterkinney]

The Cisse comparison is fair...another talented player who failed to settle. I think Torres has more natural ability and has shown glimpses of that - WC for example.

Are you having a laugh?. completely different type of player, Cisse is just a blaster, no finesse at all.

 

[g force]

You guys don't want to lose Tamudo. Cisse maybe but I thought he wanted to stay in France with Marseille - but LFC want too much money??

Saviola maybe is the only other option for Villarreal as he wants to stay in Spain. Might suit their style too.

 

[g force]

Are you having a laugh?. completely different type of player, Cisse is just a blaster, no finesse at all.

Not seen much Spanish football then have you. He and Cisse are very similar in how they drop off and run at defenders. Cisse's problem is he makes Anelka seem positively calm and level-headed...that and the injuries mean he's lost the one thing that made him a potentially great striker - his pace.

 

[mrkikiet]

Saviola maybe is the only other option for Villarreal as he wants to stay in Spain. Might suit their style too.

Tamudo won't leave, he's perico through and through...

Saviola is going to go to Madrid if Schuster goes there, although Zaragoza, home for all stray Argentinians, are next in line if Real madrid don't pick him up. There has been some cheeky pre-contract thing going on with zaragoza and saviola.

 

[Concrete Meadow]

I'd like the Rabbit to go to Villarreal, Zaragoza is good too; well anywhere but real madrid

Any chance of us [Barca] getting Gaby Milito?

mrkikiet and g force, you may not be as crazy about the Argentina NT as I am, but here's a
link to watch Copa America live.

 

[mrkikiet]

gaby milito to Farsa then. not a good move from the zaragoza president.

 

[g force]

Agreed...they've started building momentum over the last two seasons and this could see them descend to lower midtable.

Any word on what's happening with Reyes? Arsenal don't seem to want him and Real seem tied up with the managerial stuff to care. Do Real want him? Or will he move elsewhere?

 

[ZAMB]

Any word on what's happening with Reyes? Arsenal don't seem to want him and Real seem tied up with the managerial stuff to care. Do Real want him? Or will he move elsewhere?

Saw something on Eurosport last week about Real being in negotiations to keep him. Seemed pretty definite.

 

[mrkikiet]

Agreed...they've started building momentum over the last two seasons and this could see them descend to lower midtable.

although coloccini wouldn't be a bad replacement.

todays ridiculous transfer rumour: deco to newcastle united.

 

[g force]

He's surely far too classy for Big Sam! alos heard Guily to Newcastle, but I think Marseille seems to be his prefered detination. Can't think why.

Andrade seems to be going to Juve now rather than Barca..presumably due to Milito's arrival.

 

[mrkikiet]

i heard monaco for guily.

 

[g force]

Ah going back home. Makes sense, although I don't want him to go! But I can understand that he wants to play more regulalry.

 

[Concrete Meadow]

Welcome Gaby !!

Sorry mrkikiet, it's now official, Milito R us "

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/07/n070711101234.html

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/07/n070711101235.html

 

[g force]

Great signing - him, Abidal, Puyol...very strong back 3. I guess Zaragoza couldn't keep him with all the interest.

 

[mrkikiet]

he wanted to go, and had said as much. fair play to him, gets to test himself in the champions league.
don't forget marquez.

 

[g force]

Marquez I think is second fiddle to Puyol. He could play RB I suppose as the defensive midfield position is likely to be Toure.

I suppose this settles Andrade going to Juve as he was our other target.